Apparatus for discharging objects



y E. w. BRANDT I 2,241,290

APPARATUS FOR DLSCHARGING OBJEQTS Filed June 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 1941- E. w. BRANDT 2,241,290

APPARATUS FOR mscnmeine OBJECTS Filed June 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 6, 1941. I E. w. BRANDT 2,241,290

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OBJEQ'IS Filed June 22, 1938 4 Sheets-$heet 3 y 1941- E. w. BRANDT 2,241,290

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OBJECTS Filed June 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 000YQQQQ-O (00 000000000 (QM Q \i m .T 00 0) 0 Q Q Q) -maybecontrolled bythe engine." j v a This arrangement-enables the objects to be' i emptied of its contents.

Patented May 6,1941

APPARATUS FOR DISCHABGING OBJECTS ploitation de Eager William Brandt, Paris, mace, assignor to 'Sageb, Socit Anonyme Brevets, Fribourg, Switzerland, a

de Gestion et 11!!!- corporation ofswitzerla'nd v Application-June 22,1938, Serial No. 215,283 In France June-25, 1937 '9 wise- 1.5)

This invention relates to an apparatus for, discharging into'the atmosphere various. objects suchv as aerial mines or other elements'of an aerial net,- aircraft bombs, smoke-producing charges, parcels of provisions or medicaments the moment of discharge, .The apparatus of the present invention is furand generally any chargeswhioh it is desired to release in succession from an aircraft or elevated at a relatively slow rate. ,However for certain applications, use especially for the purpose of h The door of the compartment of the apparatus which opens first is locked by a special bolt until ther characterised by the provision in each oompartment of resilient stops adapted to retain the objects of each row'inside the compartment when no traction is applied to the band, said stops bee ing so designed as to yield under the push of the objects when the band drives the latter towards the discharge door. By virtue of this construction the distribution of a row of objects in course producing a'sufiicientlydense serial barrage with the aid of isolated-mines, it is necessary that the objects shouldbedischargied at a very rapid rate. p

The apparatus of the present invention is of the type possessing compartments in which the" ofdischarge can be stopped by merely ceasing to-pullthe band.

According to a modification of the invention, theappa'ratuscomprises a certain number of {'horizontal compartments closed by rocking doors objects tobedischarged are-disposed in a row,

one end of whichffac'es an outlet door.

According to the present invention each row of objects is'surrounded by a flexible member; cable, link, band, belt or like member disposed in the "in said compartments, the unwinding of the band during the discharge operation releasing the form of a loop open near the door, oneof its ends,

which passes along one side of the row, being attachedto a flxed point of the: apparatus, "while of discharge, inorder to apply-tothe row'ofobjectsa, push which drives'them through the" door. The flexiblebandmay b'e'pulled either by, hand I when theiapparatus ismountedv on an aircraft,

- V discharged at am'uch quicker-rate. than if they a the other end, which runs'along the other side f of the row, isjsubiected'totractionat themoment or flaps, said doors'being' locked by latches held in the operative position'by a belt, .band, link for the like surrounding the rows of objects housed latches, which rock'and permit the opening of the doors under the pressure of the rows of objects driven outwards by the traction applied to the band This, arrangement enables objects to be discharged horizontally.

other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accom- Y j I panying drawings which illustrate diagrammator with the aid of any mechanical means which,"

ically and by way of example various embodiments ther'eoi","and in whichwere p y allowed-to escape by-grgvi'ty as ordinary bomb-releasing apparatus.

I According to another feature, of the invention, the dischargedoors of each compartment are so I disposed as to e locked by the objects located a in an adjoiningcompartment and to be capable of opening only when -the latter is completelyemptied.

A further feature of the invention'is thatlthe same draw-band'surrounds each row of objects housed in the shcicesSiveeompartmehts, and is I carried'by the various doors in such a manner This arrangement contributes greatly towards creasing the-rapidity of discharge, since'th'e rows of objects canthus be discharged from the apparatus without abreak.

a as to apply thereon a pressure which opens them in turn as soon as the preceding compartment is I 1 is an elevation-of one embodiment;

Fig, 2 isja perspective view of asupport member for a row of objects to be discharged; :Fig. 31s an elevation of two compartments of thelapparatus of Fig. 1, showing the parts in the positionthey occupy during the discharge of the objects; v

vFig. 4 -is'a side elevation of the apparatus shown inEig. l; and

':Fig. 5, is a diagrammatic-view of an embodinient adapted to discharge objects horizontally. The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, comprises a fixed frame, the vertical longitudinal members I and horizontal-longitudinal members 2 of which bound afcertain number of compartments 3, 4, 5 in-which are housed the rows of objects 6 to be discharged. The latter are shown in the drawings in the form of cylindrical bodies. The rows of objects rest on forks I, 8, 9 integral fiadapted to'rock around pins l3, M, iii, respec-f with movable frames In, H and I2 respectively,

tively, A flexible fmember: cable, link, tape or band i8 is attached at one of its ends l'l to the frame and surrounds in succession each 'row of objects 6, passing over pulleys |8,,|8, 28 carried leaving the last compartment on the right (3,

Fig. 1) the cable or band It passes over pulleys 2|, 22 on a bolt bearing against the fork I on the frame, I0, in order to lock it in the closed position.

The bolt 2|, 22 i locked in the position shown in Fig. 1, for example by a detachable pin 22a.

The forks I, 8, 8 of each frame act as discharge doors for the various compartments 8, I, I respectively, of the apparatus.

The free end of the cable or band I6 may be wound on a reel or winch 55 adapted to be operated by'hand or by a motor, in order to apply a pull on the cable or band IS.

The width of the forks I, 8, 9 is substantially equal to that of each compartment 8, l, I, so that, in the position of rest, the end of each fork bears against the movable frame of the adjoining fork and looks it in closed position.

One or more resilient stops 2 (Fig. 3) may be provided to balance the weight of the objects to be discharged and hold them in position in each compartment], 4, 5.

Holes 28 (Fig. 4) -may advantageously be provided in---th'e parts of the apparatus in order to render them lighter.

The apparatus operates as follows:

After the objects 8 to be discharged have been introduced through the openings 30 into the-variou compartments 3, 4, ii, of the apparatus and the band l8 has been wound round them, as shown in the drawing, all that is necessary for the discharge of the objects, is to remove the pin 2241 or other locking member for the bolt 2|, 22 and to apply a pull on the band IS. The bolt 2|, 22 turns in the direction of the arrow FI and the cable band I8 rocks the fork-carrier frame in to the right around the pin i3, thus opening the door of the compartment 2. The

by the ends of the forks I, 8, 9 respectively. On

band I8 pushes the objects 8 downwards, overcoming the resistance of the resilient stops 2!, and drives them out of the compartment.

As soon as the first compartment 8 is emptied of its contents, the fork or door 8, which was held until that moment in the closed position by the objects 6 in the adjoining compartment 8, is opened by the band It, whichrocks the forkcarrier frame around its pin H. The objects I of the compartment 4 are then driven out-like those of the preceding compartment}, and

so on. g I

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5', the objects 8 are disposedin horizontal rows in the superposed compartments II, 82, 23.

The latter are closed by doors 85, 88,11 respectively, which are articulated on horizontal hinges 38, 40. These doors are locked by latches 44, adapted to pivot around pins 41, 48, 48 and held in the position shown by a band or belt l6 mounted around the row of objects I in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. The band I8 is guided by pulleys 8|), SI, 43 and by a turnpike 52, the arms 83 of which extend into the mouth of the hopper 54 in order to hold the objects within the apparatus as long as the turnpike is held against turning. The band |8 is led to a winch 58 through which it may be pulled by turning the handle 58 of the winch in the direction of the arrow. The bolt 35 of the first compartment ll is locked by special locking device similar to that shown in Pig. 1.

It is suificient to apply traction to the flexing band with the aid of the reel II to drive out the rows of objects contained in the various compartments horizontally and at a rapid rate.

of using a single cable or similar fiexible member to-control the release of the objects, a plurality thereof disposed at a distance from one another and engl l l. if necessary, in guide grooves provided on the periphery of the objectsmay naturally also be provided.

I claim: 7

1. An apparatus for discharging objects, formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors in said fixed frame for the respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said fixed frame, the

objects to be discharged being stacked in rows and resting on said doors, means to open saiddoors whemthe' objects are to be discharged, a fiexible band member having one end attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling saidobjects at the end of the row remote from the door, then passing about a succeeding row,"thereby,forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of said fiexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will exert a pressure on the encircled end of the rows to discharge the objects from the compartments. V

2. An apparatus for discharging objects formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors in said fixed frame for the respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said fixed frame, the objects to be discharged being stacked in rows and resting on said doors, means to open said doors when the objects are to be discharged, means on said doorsto prevent each of the doors, except that of the first compartment, to be opened as long as the preceding compartment is not emptied of its objects, a flexible band member having one end attached to said frame, the other end being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will exert a pressure on the encircled end of the rows to discharge the objects from the compartments.

3. An apparatus for discharging objects, formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors in said fixed frame for the respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said fixed frame, the objects to be discharged-being stacked in rows and resting on said doors, a fiexibie band member having one end attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling said objects at the end of the row remote from thedoor, then passing about and engaging the door before'proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of said fiexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will first exert a force one door and cause it to rock on said pivot means and to move out of the path of said row of objectsin the respective compartment, said flexible hand then exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to discharge the objects from the compartment and thereby allow the door of the adjacent compartment to rock into the space vacated by the dis charged objects.

4. An apparatus for discharging objects,

formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors on said frame for the respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said flxed frame, means to member having one end attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling said objects at the end of the row remote fromthe door, then passing about and engaging the door before proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of said flexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will'flrst exert a force on a door and cause it to rock on said pivot means and to move out of the path of said row of objects in the respective compartment, said flexible band then exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to discharge the objects from the compartment and thereby allow the door of the adjacent compartment to rock into the spacevacated by thedischarged objects.

5. An apparatus for discharging objects comprising a fixed frame, rockable frame members each comprising a relatively long portion having a fork portion at one end extending laterally therefrom, means to pivotally mount the other end of said rockable members to said fixed frame, said rockable frame members cooperating with the fixed frame to form successive compartments, said fork portions of said rockable frame members constituting doors for the respective compartments, the objects to be discharged being stacked in rows and resting on said doors, a flexible band member having one end attached to a the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling said objects at the end of the row remote from the door, then,

, passing about and engaging the fork portion of said rockable frame before proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of said flexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will first exert a force on a fork portion and cause said respective rockable frame member to rock on said pivot means and said door to move out of the path of said row of objects in the respective compartment, said flexible band then-exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to discharge the objects from the compartment and thereby allow the adjacent rocking frame to rock into the space vacated by the discharged objects.

6. An apparatus for discharging objects comprising a fixed frame, rockable frame members each comprising a relatively long portion having a fork portion at one end extending laterally therefrom, means to pivotally mount the other end of said rockable members to said fixed frame to form successive compartments, said fork portions of said rockable frame members constitut ing doors for the respective compartments, the objects to be discharged being stacked in rows said doors, and the other end of said flexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will first exert a force on a fork portion and cause said respective rockable frame member to rock on said pivot means'and said door to move out of the path of said row. of objects in the respective compartment, said flexible band then exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to cause said-resilient stops,

to yield and to discharge the objects from the compartment and thereby allow the adjacent rocking frame to rock into the space vacated. by

the discharged objects.

'7. An apparatus for dischargingobj ects, formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors in said fixed frame for the respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said fixed frame, the ob-' jects to be discharged being stacked in rows and resting on said doors, a flexible band member having one end attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling said objects at the end of the row remote from the door, then passing about and engaging the door before proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of said flexible band being free for pulling engagement whereby a pull on said free end will first exert a force on a door and cause it to rock on said pivot means and to move out of the path of said row of objects in the respective compartment, said flexible band then exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to discharge the objects from the compartment and thereby allow the door of the adjacent compartment to rock into the space vacated by the discharged objects and guiding pulleys mounted in the apparatus to guide said flexible band.

8. An apparatus for discharging objects, formed with successive compartments and comprising a fixed frame, doors in said fixed frame, for the and resting on said doors, resilient stops in said respective compartments, means to pivotally mount said doors to said fixed frame, latches to lock said doors, the objects to be discharged being disposed in rows ending facing said doors, a flexible band member attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about each row of objects, first encircling said objects at the end of the row remote from the door, then passing about and engaging said latches before proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors, and the other end of the flexible band being free for pulling engagement' whereby a pull on said free end will first exert a force on said latches and move them into inoperative position, said flexible band then exerting a pressure on the encircled end of the row to discharge the objects from the compartment.

9. An apparatus for discharging objects from an aircraft comprising a fixed frame, rockable frame members each comprising a relatively long portion having a fork portion at one end extending laterally therefrom, means to pivotally mount the other end of said rockable member tovsaid fixed frame, said rockable frame members cooperating with the fixed frame to form successive compartments, said fork portion of said rockable frame members constituting doors for the respective compartments, the objects to be discharged being stacked in rows and resting on said doors,

a flexible band member having one end attached to the fixed frame and passing successively about 4- 2,241,990 passing about and' enzaiinzfthe fork portion of said rockable frame" member before proceeding about a succeeding row, thereby forming loops open near said doors,-and the other end-of'said flexible band being free for pullin: enlsiement whereby a pull on said free end will first; exert a force on a fork portion and cause said respective rockable frame member to rock on said pivot the adjacent rocking frame to rock into the space vacated by the discharged objects.

EDGAR wnmsu mum. 

